Readers' comments

The whole drama unfold on our TV screens. The media were present and it all happened in broad daylight on Feb 7th.
The opposition could have impeached the president with just 53 votes in the parliament, or waited another 15 months for the election.
This is certainly a coup d'etat funded by few resort owners.
Maldives has become a Plutocracy in just 3 years from the first ever multi-party elections.

The writer needs to get his facts right first.. Didnt expect such a biased one sided story to be written in The Economist.
Fact: Nasheed won the election with the backing of a coalition.
Fact: Nasheed kicked out all the parties of this coalition from his goverment within 90 days of getting power.
Fact: Nasheed came to power stating that the government will not create state corporations and by the time he resigned, there were 44 state corporation, all of them filled with his party activists with huge salaries.
Fact: Nasheed gave countless unconstitutional and unlawful orders. (including the arreast of the chief judge of the criminal court)
These are just a small amount of things he did in the short time he was in power. The majority of this country does not trust him and want him to be our president. We have seen enough in 3 years. We want peace in this country. And that is something we will never get with him in power. So thank god that he resigned.

The ex=Prez is known to too goofy green for his controversial climate change stand by even diving into the Ocean during Copenhagen Summit as if to show his contempt for such policies promoted by countries like the US and certain hardcore Western countries determined to send out more pollutants. As the result, he might be pushed out by the collusion of interests.

Here are the facts. Nasheed contested in the election in 2008. He won only 25%. With the coalition he managed to win 54%. After that he was a champion of democracy who was an Amnesty Prisoner. Later on, he started breaking his promise. The main ones were; his manifesto stated that the state media would be independent. He started giving jobs to his close associates. He ran his party according to instructions from Reeko Moosa and Mariya. He started arresting politicians and judges. He started giving unconstitutional orders to the military and police. He disrespected courts, Commonwealth, UN, British, India etc. He found out that he was only the right person - and all of a sudden he had no choice but to resign because of the number of increasing citizens against him.

would have thought a reputable magazine such as the Economist would not be so biased in it's view. There are two sides to this story and blaming everything that happens in this country on what MDP coined as the Dictator, who is also loved by a large number of Maldivians will nt help to unfold the truth behind the fall of Anni. For a majority of the island people in this country Gayyoom was a benevolent President. Ask them and stop listening to the Dhivehi Observers and Paul Roberts only.

True, it was Nasheed's efforts and sacrifices that fleshed and sustained Maldivians' struggle for reform and democracy. Crediting and acknowledging his crusade for reform and democracy in the country, Maldivians bestowed him with the highest authority of the country in 2008. However, right from the beginning he favoured incompetent relatives and friends to the cabinet posts and responsible positions of the government. He had to appoint so many state ministers and create so many political posts unnecessarily, just to reward his party activists. The result was mismanagement in government and poor execution of the policies laid in MDP Manifesto. Corruption took root within the government as well and came to same level as it was in Maumoon's authoritarian regime. Economy deteriorated, although partly it could be blamed for the global economic downturn.

It was a result of all these factors that resulted in frustration by a large majority of the public over Nasheed's Administration. I agree, there was an Islamic sentiment at play, but it wasn't the main factor. Public's frustration was infiltrated into the armed forces when the administration clearly violated the constitution by ordering the military to take a senior judge into custody without the due legal processes. And then also armed forces cooperated Nasheed's administration in containing the serial protests held by the opposition demanding the restoration of the constitution and the release of the judge. However Nasheed did not heed and went on to threaten the opposition by creating doubts over the presidential election due in 2013. So I would say it was Nasheed's own initiative in disregarding the constitution which resulted him to be forced into resignation by the armed forces, in violation to the constitution.

What we are seeing in the Maldives today is a reversion to the mean, as the same old crooks and islamists regain control through a coup.

It is unfortunate that the biggest power in the region, India, has chosen to stand by (although it did belatedly send in an envoy and warned the islamists not to harm the deposed president Nasheed).

One terse phone call from New Delhi can set things right, for the jihadists know that not obeying would mean an armada of battleships landing up on a coast near Male. Puzzling as it appears, one wonders why India wont act.

The rest of the world community too needs to penalize the coup perpetrators as the last thing we all want is for this islandic resort to turn into a jihaad factory!
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I wonder what is the reason for India (and so is US) quick recognition of the new government. With the amount of noise and misinformation out, I am not sure who to believe in.
Somehow I wonder what US and India gain for the quick recognition of the new regime. Nasheed may have been branded as anything, but one thing he is known for his international stance and publicity in climate change and air pollution - which probably do not sits well within some folks in DC and Delhi who both oppose international treaties in climate change.
The whole fiasco somehow reminds me what happened to DSK: Alleged sexual misconduct/mistreatment of a judge -> purge and disgraced (with some folks who are clearly gaining from the purge). Even Nasheed (or DSK) has their problems, it almost feels like they are victims of a trap.

A well spinned story around an old dictator (gayoom) and jihadi threats craftted by Nasheed's british PR officer is what you (western media) buy and you prove it here.Expected the economist to be better on the facts and to have more analysis on the events that led up to Nasheeds resignation including military and police following his orders to arrest hundreds of opposition protesters every night for the past month, unlawful detention of opposition leaders and a chief judge without charge.Nasheed had a parliamentary majority, a divided opposition and negotiated supreme court bench and military/police that backed him until his last hours, his downfall was his own doing, he had an opportunity to take this democracy several steps ahead and instead he slid us back to chaos frustration unrest confusion anarchy!

Shammali,
Perhaps you would like to share with other Economist readers about how Gayoom and his ilk derided President Nasheed as a "Jew and a Christian". How they manipulated poor uneducated islanders with religious fervor, maybe you have forgotten Israeli flags being burnt at Republic Square in Male. Maybe you forgot what a warm welcome these opposition characters gave to the Israeli doctors who were offering free eye surgery to poor fishermen. If this does not create Jihadi sentiment what does? Please also explain to the Economist readers about the "Monuments" meant to convert all Maldivians to idol worshippers. Ask the current Home Minister Jameel to share with the foreign media about his paper about how Preident Nasheed conspired with the "jews" to undermine Islam, he foot to mention it during yesterdays press conference, this paper is important because it was this paper which led to the arrest of Jameel by President Nasheeds' government leading to the unrest.

$800 million of our money stolen by ex dictators' brother can buy a few police officers, you can ask about this from the Singaporean CID they are investigating it. Police brutality cannot control the majority forever. I was at the protest in Male and I saw a woman on the ground mercilessly stomped on and beaten with batons. I saw MDP lawmaker Ms. Maria Ahmed Didi dragged on the street by her hair while the officers molested her. I'm ashamed of being a Maldivian, you should be too.

I want anarchy now. I want no tourists to come to this benighted country until a democratically elected government is in place. It is better to be a pauper on the street than a dog with a golden leash living on the behest of the masters.

Corection: Nasheed won 25%, Gayyoom won 45%.. in the second round Nasheed, DrWaheed and two other parties formed a coalition and won the election by a small margin (52% i think). Thats just 8000 votes. His party didnt win the following two elections either.. Clearly a majority is not something he can claim

already the middle class is suffering wth increased prices and everythn,and stil sm want no tourists to come,clearly shows that they have a means of getting money and is not bothered about the majority of civilians n shows how patriotic they are wanting foreign influence.do the people who want foreign influence even understand the damage it can cause? and is causing in many other countries? oh pleaseeee!!!!!